A long and colorful tale that was published in Saturday’s Morgunblaðið,
“An Adventurous Escape from Iceland”, is considered by one history
professor to be “highly unlikely” to be true.
The story in question, Guðbrandur Jónsson, tells a tale of a Nazi escaping from Iceland in 1941. Britain was occupying Iceland at this time, and Jónsson claims that telephone director, the chief of police, and the chairman of the Fishing Matters committee were all arrested in connection with the soldier’s escape. In addition, Jónsson contends that the US government pressured then-Prime Minister Hermann Jónason to be removed from power in 1042.
“I find all of this highly unlikely and I’m not prepared a single thing [written in that story].” historian and the University of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson told Morgunblaðið. “When somebody holds forth a story that is so absolutely incredible as this, one needs to be sure that they have valid and verifiable sources. This was not the case with this story.”
Jóhannesson added that he hopes Jónsson reveals the source, or sources, for his tale.